Cardboard corner construction for luggage



1941. L. H. CLARK' 2,228,907

CARDBOARD CORNER CONSTRUCTION FOR LUGGAGE Filed Dec. 10, 1938 INVENTOR [ours H @fmr-A'e ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 14, 1941 STATES rarer Louis H. Clark,

New York, N. Y.

Application December 10, 1938, Serial No. 244,928

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cardboard luggage.

The invention has for an object to characterize the luggage by the fact that it is formed from a sheet of cardboard or the like material bent and formed in a particular manner to form the corner construction.

With respect to the corner construction it is proposed to provide a bottom wall, a side wall and an end wall with a rounded bottom corner adjacent the side wall, and it is proposed to form the junction of the end wall and the bottom wall set in slightly from the edge portion of the bottom and side walls, and it is proposed to arrange the parts so that the edge portion of the bottom wall extends along the edge of the end wall.

As another object of this invention it is proposed to characterize the corner construction by a flap arranged on the end of the side wall and formed so that the junction thereof with the side wall is set inwards slightly from the junction of the end wall and the bottom wall, and it is proposed to arrange the flap so that it extends along the inner face of the end wall.

Still further the invention proposes to reinforce the parts of the cardboard luggage with wooden frames. t is contemplated to provide suitable trimmings for the luggage.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, refercnce will be had to the following description and accompanying-drawing, and to the claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the piece of luggage shown in Fig, 1 in an open condition.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. l is a fragmentary developed view of the blank used in forming one of the sections of the luggage.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the corner construction of the luggage.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view looking in the direction of the line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary developed View of a modified form of blank used in construction of another section of the luggage.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a corner construction of a piece of luggage constructed according to a modification of this invention.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of the blank for the corner construction of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken 5 on the line ll-H of Fig. 8.

The corner construction for luggage, according to this invention, may be applied to various types of luggage. For this disclosure the invention will 7 be shown applied to agrip consisting of an upper ,10:

section in and a lower section ll hingedly connected at one of their sides by hinges I2. Along the sides the grip is provided with conventional locks l3 and a carrying handle I l, The section If! is slightly shallower than the section II, and 15 forms the cover of the grip. The section l l comprises the body.

Each of these sections is constructed with the corner construction. To readily understand the arrangement it is advisable that the blank illus- 20 trated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 be first studied.

The blank shown in Fig. 4 comprises a sheet of cardboard or the like material having a portion l5 which will form the bottom wall of the body of the grip section. This sheet of cardboard also 25 has portions "5 which will form the side walls, and a portion H which will form one end wall. Only one end of the sheet of cardboard has been illustrated but it should be borne in mind that the other end is an exact duplication.

The portion H to form the end wall has rounded bottom corners adjacent the side wall portion l6. Each side wall portion i6 is provided with a projecting flap it formed with a wide base and a narrow outer end. The sheet of cardboard is formed with a score line It at the junction of the end wall portion H and the bottom wall portion it. This score line It! is set slightly inwards from the edge portions W of the bottom wall portion l5. Small cuts 29 extend from the end edges l5 to the ends of the score line 19.

When the end wall portion I1 is bent upwards at right angles to the bottom wall portion 15 at the score line l9, there will be narrow edge portions along the edges l5 of the bottom wall which may be bent upwards to cover the contour of the rounded bottom corners I'I of the end wall. This formation is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

There are score lines 2| at the junction of the flaps l8 and the side wall portions It and these score lines 2| are set in slightly from the score line l9. Small cuts 22 extend inwards from the edge 15 to the inner ends of the score lines 2!. The arrangement is such that the flaps It! may be bent upwards at right angles along the score lines 2i, and then when the side wall portions I6 are bent upwards so that the edge portion l5 extend-s along the rounded corners Il the flaps l8 may be extended along the inner face of the end wall I I, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In these latter figures one corner construction is shown. It should be understood that the four corners are constructed in the identical fashion.

A wooden frame 23 is placed within the top edge portion of the grip section II. Covering material 24 is extended around the outside of the grip section for decorative purposes, and its end portion 24 is engaged partially around the wooden frame 23. A cardboard Wall section 25 is set into the grip section and has its top edge portion 25 slightly projecting above the edge of the grip section to form a surrounding flange. Staples or fastening elements 26 are engaged through the wall section 25, the frame 23 and the material of the grip section II to hold these parts together as a unit.

The top section It is constructed very similar to the bottom sections but differs in several minor respects. Fig. 7 illustrates the blank from which the top section is constructed. This blank is substantially identical to the blank shown in Fig. 4, distinguishing only in the construction of the flaps l8. These flaps are just as wide at the outer extremities as they are at the bases. The reason for narrowing the flaps in the form shown in Fig. 4 is to reduce excess material from the flaps which would have no practical use. In Fig. 7 this is not necessary since the grip section is shallow and it is required that the flaps be sufficiently strong, this eliminates the necessity of reducing any material therefrom.

The cover section I0 is reinforced with the wooden frame 23 and is covered with covering material 24. The parts are held together with fastening elements 26. The cover section H1 is not provided with a wall section similar to the wall section 25 since it may then set into the projecting portions 25 of the wall section when the grip is closed.

In Figs. 8-11 inclusive a modification of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the fact that certain lugs are provided which assist in holding the corner construction in its correct operative position. Fig. 9 shows a portion of the blank used in this form of the invention. This blank has a lug portion l'l projecting from the rounded corner Il and this lug H is adapted to engage in an opening [5 formed along the edge l5 of the blank.

A staple 28 is mounted across the open end of the opening l5 to close the same. This staple is a conventional wire staple having its ends engaged through the corners of the material of the opening IS. The lug Il is therefore capable of engaging in the opening l5 as shown in Fig.

8 and maintain its position rigidly by reason of being held against lateral displacement by the staple 28.

Each flap I 8 is also formed with a projecting lug portion I8 which is adapted to engage beneath a staple 29 mounted on the side wall l1. This staple is placed in the proper location to receive the lug [8 when the corner is correctly folded as illustrated in Fig. 8. The lugs l8 and the staple 29 assist in holding the corner formation. The staple 29 is of conventional construction having a central portion beneath which the lug l8 may engage, and end portions which are engaged through the material of the end wall I! to maintain the position of the staple.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous forms.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A corner construction for cardboard luggage, comprising a sheet of cardboard or the like material having a bottom wall, a side wall,

and an end wall with a rounded bottom corner adjacent said side wall, the junction of the end wall and bottom wall being set in slightly from the end edge portion of the bottom and side walls and the edge portion of the bottom wall extending along the edge of the end wall, and a flap on the end of the side wall the junctions thereof with the side Wall being set in slightly from said junction, the said flap extending along the inner face of the end wall, a lug portion projecting from said rounded bottom corner and engaging into a receiving slot formed in said bottom wall.

2. A corner construction for cardboard luggage, comprising a sheet of cardboard or the like material having a bottom wall, a side wall, and an end wall with a rounded bottom corner adjacent said side wall, the junction of the end wall and bottom wall being set in slightly from the end edge portion of the bottom and side walls and the edge portion of the bottom wall extending along the edge of the end wall, and a flap on the end of the side wall the junctions thereof with the side wall being set in slightly from said junction, the said flaps extending along the inner face of the end wall, a lug portion projecting from said rounded bottom corner and engaging.

into a receiving slot formed in said bottom wall, and a staple extended across one side of the slot to assist in holding said lug in position.

LOUIS I-I. CLARK. 

